Some 150 healthcare workers to receive young professional homes in Reg. 10

Healthcare workers living in Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice) who have pending house lot applications will be prioritised to receive young professional houses by the first quarter of next year, President Dr Irfaan Ali announced on Saturday.

President Ali disclosed that some 120 pending house lot applications from the region are that of nurses. He said as part of the government’s commitment to improve the livelihood of citizens, these nurses will receive assistance to acquire homes.

Overall, there are about 150 healthcare workers in the region and the President said all of them will get the young professional houses.

“I’ve instructed the Minister of Housing we have about 150 medical personnel comprising of doctors, nurses, medical technicians, lab technicians who have applied for the young professional homes here in Region Ten.

“We’re now developing Plantation York [and] I’ve asked that before the end of this year we must have those who have applied for the young professional [houses] pre-qualified and the banks approve their loans so by the end of the first quarter next year they can have and move into the young professional homes,” President Ali said.

The housing area situated at Plantation York along the Linden Highway is part of the massive 1,000 Homes Project in Linden. This project will see housing units being constructed to cater for young professionals of all income brackets by the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CHPA).

The Head of State explained that opportunities to study, adequate salaries and good living conditions are paramount for the overall enhancement of young people living here. Already the nurses have undergone salary adjustments and training programmes are available with job opportunities at the Health Ministry.

The President said although the government is making available the infrastructure for nurses to train and providing monetary support, the issue of housing has been an imperative one for many.

“One of the things that we are focused on is ensuring that our healthcare workers, our nurses, that they also live in decency, that they have access to homes, young professional houses so that they can enjoy an uplifted standard of living, provide for their families and create opportunities for their own children,” Dr Ali said.

Currently, 20 of the 40 elevated and flat units in Amelia’s Ward have been completed as part of the first phase of the 1000 homes project. In order to obtain these young professional homes, the government supports the client when engaging banks and other financial institutions to ensure that homeownership is achievable.